The Town of Kingsville is considering adding a new category to its zoning bylaw to protect undeveloped municipal land.
While reviewing the town's land, administrators found several municipally-owned lands and areas owned by the Essex Region Conservation Authority that were not accurately included in the zoning bylaws.
They think it could be an opportunity to protect the town's natural heritage.
Staff went through the provincial regulations and town bylaws and found nothing is stopping Kingsville from adding the new category.
"The purpose of this zone will be to protect and hold lands with environmental features not currently intended for recreation and park use, and do not fall within the current wetland or natural environment zoning," said a report going to town councillors on Monday night. "Environmental Reserve District zoning is intended for the long-term protection of watercourses and other natural heritage features."
It would also allow the town to track and protect the natural environment into the future and could be added to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan at no cost to the municipality.
The administration has already consulted with the Essex Region Conservation Authority.
Staff also discovered the zoning for some town parks and greenspaces was inaccurate. Those were zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use.
They recommend rezoning those parcels as either parkland, recreation, public utilities and services, or wetland. However, they also propose adding a new zoning category called "Environmental Reserve District."
"The town's parks and open spaces, as well as Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) owned lands, within the municipality require proper zoning to ensure they are held for their intended use, now and into the future," continued the report.